Question re kitchen sink pillar tap stiff operation

[silver50]

Hi

I need to fix the above tap, it's stiff turning on and off more than anything. I made it better by forcing it open and closed a few times but it's still not great. The operation of both taps isn't feeling smooth but the other is working fine. Although old, they're not ancient ones, they're the type you remove the turn handle to access inside.

Would I be right this is probablly the valve in it causing the problem, not the washer? I will change the taps if need be but thinking there's a chance it might be fixed easily enough. I'm ok with some basic plumbing but no idea with this what parts might be needed or exactly what the cause/remedy is! Thanks for guidance on it

 

[silver50]

Bump. Anyone? I need to attend to this this morning!

 

[HootingOwl]

Are they quarter turn ceramic cartridges or the oldrr compression valve type?

Turn off the water and take valve out of tap. Take the head and the valve/cartridge to a decent merchant and get them to supply a new valve or cartridge. Tap valves are about six or seven quid and ceramics around 20 quid. Don't break the sink trying to get the valve out of the tap body.

You may be able to strip clean and grease a compression valve and put a new washer on it.

Sometimes easier and cheaprr to fit new taps.

 

[silver50]

Cheers, that's what i'll try!

 

[silver50]

Just to report back for the possible benefit of others. On removal one tap gland/valve was pretty well seized so new ones seemed sensible. I got replacement 1/2"BST ones fine with the correct length of splined top (for the original tap handles). However the splines were different in some way and the handles just span round on them (pretty weird actually because they looked very alike). Cue having to go away again to buy a "tap reviver kit", basically same thing with new handles too.

You probably couldn't have found a more standard looking pair of kitchen taps if you tried so it was an unwelcome surprise that the new valves/glands didn't fit the handles. Moral has to be buy the handles too unless you have to retain a specific "look" of the taps.

 

[HootingOwl]

....and that is why you always need to take the tap handle/knob with you when you go shopping for new valves and glands...
Thanks for updating the thread and good work.

 

[Agile]

The name "supatap" came to my mind when reading the OP but I am not so sure now.

 

[AGAS]

Need to count the splines for ceramic